Episode 313 - 1941
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema's most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys march into the chaos of Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941. Fresh off the unprecedented successes of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg was handed the ultimate Hollywood blank check to make whatever he wanted. The result was an enormous, effects-driven comedy about panic erupting across Southern California in the days following Pearl Harbor. While 1941 wasn't a full-blown box office bomb, it fell well short of the massive expectations surrounding Spielberg's first comedy, becoming one of the earliest examples of how even Hollywood's hottest director wasn't immune to a stumble.
But was the film unfairly judged, or is 1941 simply too loud, too chaotic, and too overstuffed for its own good? Troy and Brad break down the film's incredible cast, jaw-dropping practical effects, and the fascinating production that saw Spielberg pushing his filmmaking ambitions to new heights. The hosts also discuss how the film's reputation has evolved over the decades, why it has developed a passionate cult following, and how its perceived failure may have helped shape Spielberg's remarkable run of classics that followed.
Sound the air raid sirens, keep an eye on the Ferris wheel, and join Not A Bomb as they revisit one of Hollywood's most fascinating near-misses, proving that sometimes even a box office disappointment can become an unforgettable piece of blockbuster history.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema's most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb?
This week, the guys march into the chaos of Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy 1941. Fresh off the unprecedented successes of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg was handed the ultimate Hollywood blank check to make whatever he wanted. The result was an enormous, effects-driven comedy about panic erupting across Southern California in the days following Pearl Harbor. While 1941 wasn't a full-blown box office bomb, it fell well short of the massive expectations surrounding Spielberg's first comedy, becoming one of the earliest examples of how even Hollywood's hottest director wasn't immune to a stumble.
But was the film unfairly judged, or is 1941 simply too loud, too chaotic, and too overstuffed for its own good? Troy and Brad break down the film's incredible cast, jaw-dropping practical effects, and the fascinating production that saw Spielberg pushing his filmmaking ambitions to new heights. The hosts also discuss how the film's reputation has evolved over the decades, why it has developed a passionate cult following, and how its perceived failure may have helped shape Spielberg's remarkable run of classics that followed.
Sound the air raid sirens, keep an eye on the Ferris wheel, and join Not A Bomb as they revisit one of Hollywood's most fascinating near-misses, proving that sometimes even a box office disappointment can become an unforgettable piece of blockbuster history.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Episode 168 - The Fabelmans
Welcome back to Not A Bomb podcast! This is the show where we go back and reexamine some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history and see if they deserve a second chance. On this introspective episode, we tackle 2022’s box office bomb, but critical darling - The Fabelmans. Legendary artist Steven Spielberg directs this coming-of-age drama and gives us a glimpse into his adolescent years as an early filmmaker. We are lucky to have our good friend Alex back on the show who, apparently, has seen this film three times! Before we discuss this very expensive therapy session, we spend a little time discussing some of our favorite “movies about movies.” The Fabelmans failed to recoup it’s production budget on it’s initial run but did manage to get a bunch of Oscar nominations. Where the critics just giving this film a pass because of Spielberg’s name? Did audiences miss out on an interesting and intimate portrait of a great American film director? Download and find out what we think!
The Fabelmans is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dao, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb podcast! This is the show where we go back and reexamine some of the biggest bombs in cinematic history and see if they deserve a second chance. On this introspective episode, we tackle 2022’s box office bomb, but critical darling - The Fabelmans. Legendary artist Steven Spielberg directs this coming-of-age drama and gives us a glimpse into his adolescent years as an early filmmaker. We are lucky to have our good friend Alex back on the show who, apparently, has seen this film three times! Before we discuss this very expensive therapy session, we spend a little time discussing some of our favorite “movies about movies.” The Fabelmans failed to recoup it’s production budget on it’s initial run but did manage to get a bunch of Oscar nominations. Where the critics just giving this film a pass because of Spielberg’s name? Did audiences miss out on an interesting and intimate portrait of a great American film director? Download and find out what we think!
The Fabelmans is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dao, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch.
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com or Contact Us - here. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.